JINX

Mavis and Toby work the line that runs from Thomas' branch line to the quarry at Ffarquar. With business booming down at the harbour, they have been kept busier then ever, taking their trucks of stone and rock down to the port to be collected and sent off on large ships to other islands where they are put to good use. The two of them enjoy keeping busy, as well as knowing that their hard work makes them a credit to Sir Topham Hatt.

One morning, the manager of quarry came to see Mavis and Toby in the shed whilst their drivers prepared them for work.

"Toby", he said, "I have received an important letter from Sir Topham Hatt requesting for you to go down to the port to help with an important unloading operation. A boat from the mainland carrying supplies of oil has just arrived and they need as many engines as they can to help"

Toby simmered happily.

"Thank you sir", he said, "I will do my best"

Mavis, on the other hand, felt rather upset. She didn't want Toby to leave her on her own to handle the work at the quarry by herself.

"Excuse me sir", she asked the manager timidly, "But with Toby gone, who will help me here?"

"I have already arranged for an engine to come from another railway to help you here at the quarry Mavis", explained the manager, turning to her, "He is very strong and very reliable. He used to work in a brewery"

Mavis felt a lot happier after that, but her spirits seemed damp when Toby left a short while later. The replacement engine arrived the very next morning. He rather short, and had four small wheels, body work constructed of a very strong looking iron. Mavis had been expecting a much bigger character as he rolled quietly into the yard. The manager greeted his crew warmly.

"This", he said to Mavis, "Is Lucky. He will be standing in for Toby whilst he is working at the port. I trust you can make him feel well and comfortable"

"Pleased to meet you", smiled Mavis cheerfully.

The little diesel looked down nervously.

"How do you do?", he replied timidly.

"Don't worry", said Mavis kindly, "It's not always easy adapting to a new working environment, but I'm sure you'll fit in just fine" The manager turned to Mavis.

"Mavis", he said, "I'd like you to show Lucky around the quarry and teach him our ways. There are alot of trucks that need to be taken to the depot at Tidmouth this afternoon, so we must keep going. There is a large shunting operation I need the both of you to help with"

"Yes sir", smiled Mavis importantly, and with that, she set off, followed quietly by Lucky.
*

The two diesels set to work right away. Mavis showed the new comer all the sidings and important parts of the quarry. She tried to be cheerful and welcoming, but Lucky said hardly a word. Mavis was beginning to worry.

"Is something wrong?", she asked as they arrived at the main yard, "You've been awfully quiet"

"I'm sorry", replied the little diesel softly, "I'm probably just too nervous"

"There's no need to be nervous", smiled Mavis warmly, "We are all friends here. And don't worry about making mistakes. It happens all the time. Now lets get down to the shunting duties"

The yard was in a mess. Before leaving for the port, Toby had helped to arrange the trucks into sidings, those that were to be taken to the depot and empties that needed loading.

"Why don't you take the empties to the chute?", said Mavis to Lucky as they arrived at the yard, "I'll take these loaded ones"

"I'm not sure if I can", whispered the little diesel nervously.

"Don't hesitate to make mistakes", soothed Mavis as she backed down on the loaded trucks, "You've had experience with trucks haven't you?"

Lucky took a deep breath and slowly buffered up to the empties. He then carefully marshaled them into a line, ready to move off.

"That's the way", Mavis called, "Your doing fine..."

But she spoke too soon. Lucky hadn't stopped. He was still shunting the line of empty trucks further down the siding.

"Oh dear", he groaned, "It's happening again!"

At the far end of the siding was a large gravel ditch. Some workmen were using a cement mixer to fill it, in order to make a foundation for a warehouse. They didn't see Lucky coming. There was a loud CRASH as the trucks ploughed through the wooden buffers and into the ditch. Lucky shut his eyes as he felt his wheels come clear of the track and crunch to a halt on the hard gravel. His driver had jumped clear and the workmen had managed to flee in time, but they were very annoyed. Mavis rolled up behind.

"Lucky", she exclaimed, "What happened?"

"I...I...I'm sorry", sniffed the little diesel, close to tears, "I tried to keep control"

"Never mind", sighed Mavis, "Lets get you out of there and have this mess cleared"

Before long, Mavis had pulled Lucky back onto the rails. He felt bad about leaving her stay to clear up the mess, but she insisted that he went back to work.

"The rest of the empties need to be taken to the chute", she explained, "But you must be carefully this time. The trucks like to play tricks, so you must keep total control over them at all times. I'm sure you've handled trucks before, so you'll know what to do"

"Yes", replied Lucky, looking at the trucks rather anxiously, "There were many trucks when I worked at the brewery, but..."

He paused for a moment.

"...but we lost most of them"

"Lost them?", repeated Mavis, rather bewildered, "What happened to them?"

Lucky fell silent. Mavis could sense that it was probably a depressing subject. She watched with concern as he glided slowly away to the chute.

*

"Just keep control", Lucky thought to himself as he rounded the corner and approached the chute, "Just keep control..."

A long line of empties sat waiting for him. He slowly buffered up, took a deep breath and began to move them under the chute. The first truck rolled under and the foreman gave the signal to begin loading. Lucky felt pleased that everything was going well. Suddenly, without warning, the entire train jerked violently forwards. The trucks were up to their games. They enjoyed playing tricks on new engines, especially on their first day.

"Horrah! Horrah!", they screamed as they lurched forwards, pulling Lucky with them towards the chute.

"What'll I do? What'll I do?", cried Lucky beginning to panic, "I can't control them!"

Mavis had just finished helping to clear the mess of the accident and was passing when she saw the crisis. She gasped in horror.

"Lucky!", she cried, "Bump them! Bump them as hard as you can!"

The first truck had already passed under the chute.

"Turn off the chute!", ordered the foreman through his megaphone, "Quickly!"

Lucky wasted no time at all. With all the strength he had he rammed into the last truck with a mighty, violent BUMP! But the worst was yet to happen. The first truck had cleared the chute, but the force of the bump caused the second to jump the rails. The workman jumped for cover as it ploughed straight into the support holding the chute. Lucky closed his eyes as his driver hastily applied the emergency brake, bringing him to a screaming halt. There was a loud rumbling noise, a crash, a crunch...and then silence.

Lucky opened his eyes and groaned silently at the wreckage before him. The chute now lay in smithereens. The derailed truck had smashed head first into one of the wooden pillars which held up the chute, causing the whole structure to give way. Rocks, stone and broken trucks lay everywhere. Mavis rolled up alongside.

"Oh dear", she said examining the wreckage, "Maybe you aren't used to our trucks"

"It's not that Mavis", whispered Lucky softly, "It's because...because..."

He seemed to be having trouble finding words. But before he could even finish his sentence, the foreman came storming over to them, his face alive with furry.

"You clumsy engine!", he scowled, "What do you think you are playing at?"

"But sir!", Mavis cut in quickly, "It wasn't Lucky's fault..."

"No buts!", snapped the foreman, "That's the second accident today. Any more and we shall send you packing"

With that, Lucky glided sad and silently away. Mavis watched with concern.

*

Mavis tried her best to sooth Lucky's feelings when she returned home that evening after helping to clear the wreckage of the accident. But no matter how hard she tried, nothing seemed to cheer him up. The manager came to visit them. Mavis once again tried to defend Lucky but she was silenced before she could even speak.

"I am very sorry that I have to resort to this Lucky", he said, clasping his hands behind his back, "But we've had two major accidents today. We simply cannot risk is anymore. You will have to return home first thing tomorrow morning"

"I...I can explain everything...", muttered Lucky softly, "The reason all this has been happening...is because..."

A tear rolled down his cheek and splashed onto his buffer beam. Both Mavis and the manager were bewildered. They couldn't think of anything to say. Finally, Lucky spoke again.

"I'm a Jinx"

The manager stroked his chin, pondering.

"A Jinx?", he repeated.

"Yes sir", Lucky went on, tears now streaming down his face, "It's almost like a curse that's been placed on me since the day I was built! The brewery company I was built for sent me away because I was always causing accidents and loosing trucks. They sold me to several companies but none of them wanted me because wherever I went, I always caused accidents. It's not my fault sir! I've tried to get rid it, but no matter what I do, I just can't stop being a Jinx"

He broke into a stream of tears. Both Mavis and the manager were stunned.

"I've heard of this before", said Mavis, "But Toby told me that it's only a trick that the mind plays. I'm certain there is an explanation for all this Lucky"

"My driver and fitter have tried everything they can", whimpered Lucky between sobs, "But theres nothing left to try. I may as well be sent to the smelter in disgrace"

"Don't even begin to mention such things", said the manager, taking both engines by surprise, "Tomorrow, instead of sending you back, we shall send you instead to Crovan's Gate. I haven't seen a single engine who hasn't emerged from their workshop without feeling like new engine all over again. I am certain that there is a logical explanation behind this?"

Lucky looked up timidly.

"Are you sure sir?"

"I've never been more certain"

*

The next day, Percy arrived to take Lucky to Crovan's Gate. For the remainder of the week, Bill and Ben came up from the China Clay Works to help Mavis with the quarry work, but she couldn't help but worry for Lucky all the while. One morning, she was resting on a siding, taking on fuel.

"I do hope he's alright", she thought to herself, "It would be terrible if it turned out he actually was a jinx. Then he'd have to go back home" Just then, a familiar horn tooted merrily in the distance. Mavis looked up in surprise to see none other then Lucky gliding happily into the yard with a jolly smile. He looked like a new engine, his paint a sparkling apple green.

"Hello Mavis!", he tooted happily as he came to rest beside her.

"Lucky!", said Mavis happily, "Your back! What happened to you? You look like a new engine!"

"It was wonderful", explained Lucky, sounding a lot more cheerful then he had been the previous week, "They were so kind to me, and they found out why I've been causing all these accidents. My brakes are faulty. They are always failing which meant I could never stop on time. But they've fitted me with a newer, better pair. I've never been happier"

"I knew things would work out in the end", smiled Mavis, "You weren't a jinx after all. You just needed proper maintenance...Sodor Maintenance"

"Exactly", added Lucky with a broad smile, "The workshops back home were tacky and small. Only the bigger diesels got treated"

Suddenly, Mavis remembered.

"Lucky", she asked, "Does this mean that you are going back there?"

"Going away?", came a friendly voice.

The engines looked down, and to their surprise, none other then Sir Topham Hatt, The Fat Controller had arrived, his hands clasped behind his back, the quarry manager standing proudly beside him.

"Sir!", spluttered Mavis, "Please don't send..."

But he raised a hand to silence her. He turned to Lucky, who began to flush slightly at the cheeks.

"Lucky", he said proudly, "I have heard a lot about you from the quarry manager. I find you a very interesting character"

"I'm dreadfully sorry sir", Lucky began, "About all the accidents..."

"Which is why", the kind railway man continued, "I have decided to buy you from the other railway. From now on, you shall work here at the quarry with Toby and Mavis"

Lucky is now a much happier in all his life. His new brakes have made him the pride of the tramway and quarry work keeps him busy all day long. The trucks have learnt not bother him anymore. But above all, he is glad that he has finally been lifted of the jinx.
*****